Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji on Wednesday ordered the arrest of Keroche Breweries Limited proprietors Tabitha Karanja and her husband Joseph Karanja in connection with tax evasion.

In a statement, Haji said an audit by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) established that the two, through Keroche Breweries, evaded taxes amounting to Sh14.4 billion.

Haji said the company failed to remit excise duty and value-added tax (VAT) on its various beer products among them Crescent Vodka, Viena Ice and Summit Lager as well as duty stamps between January 2015 and June 2019.

DPP Haji said there was sufficient to charge the couple and Keroche Breweries Limited with 10 counts of tax fraud.

“Having independently reviewed the file and applying the provisions of the National Prosecution Policy, I am satisfied that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to charge the suspects listed herein with 10 counts of Tax Fraud, contrary to section 97 (a) and (c) of the Tax Procedures Act, 2015,” Haji said in a statement.

Comments

This looks like a renewed war by Foreign Owned Kenya Breweries, against any successful, locally owned maker of beer, wines and spirits. Tabitha Karanja and Humphrey Kariuki, fight the giants in Court! Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and show that you have nothing to hide, and Justice with shift in your favor.

KRA has lost its bearings. Indigenous firms like Keroshe need protection to grow and provide employment to the hoards of jobless Kenyans roaming the dusty streets. What do those taxes do anyway other than pay the political gangs and finance endless presidential pleasure tours? In more sensible regimes, investors who create employment are encouraged, and even freed from tax obligations ( Boeing and GM America). Is it any wonder that poor Kenya has lost 98 percent of its large industries, with the resultant social mess and misery??

Where have you been living? Taxes in Kenya create neither jobs nor development, they disappear into the bottomless pit that is the civil service and the political class. 99percent of infrastructure development and the resultant job creation is financed through loans or foreign grants. Government funded projects are none starters, but there's always enough cash to pay for V-8 gas guzzlers and per Diem payments at a minimum of 35k per day for useless overseas shopping trips.

Noordin Haji and them are doing a great job...but extend it to the Asians who have milked kenya of billions. Wahindi wagapi wanalipaga taxes??...but they are well connected...that's why they are untouchable while treating kenyans like crap. Right now we are getting after our own folks...rules should apply across the board. Just like Akasha brothers...while you have well connected politicians dealing drugs too..come on HAJI be fair ..BE LIKE MICHUKI OR MUTUTHO...RULES Applies to all not to certain individuals.
Anyway...GOOD LUCK PROSECUTING THIS CASES

The best business in Kenya is real estate ... build your flats and malls, collect 10 million in rent every month and pay 10% tax of ksh 1 million ... no other tax is required .. enjoy your 9 million with your family or hookers ... any other business hata ukifanya nini, you will be getting demand letters and threats from KRA every day ... even if you are 100% compliant, these KRA thugs will dig into your history and find you missed a decimal point in the year 2010 .. then they will charge you interest and penalties since 2010 coz of one missed decimal .. wakora wote

The government should give tax incentives to companies that create jobs, the likes of Karanja and Kariuki. If these companies were given a tax break and did not pay then remind them through the courts. Definitely they will settle but not drug them to police cells and close companies. How does the government expect employees in these companies feed their families. The government is not going to provide jobs to these people. Again the people I believe who must be held responsible are the KRA agents. They are not supposed to take any bribe from any company for the purpose of evading tax. If approached by any company, these KRA crooks need to explain their ethical responsibility. I think the government is going after the wrong people.

They did not pay taxes there is no difference between a rich person stealing and a poor person both are thieves.Let Kenyans enjoy the show we know that is all it is . If this couple have a brain they will hire a lawyer and they will be out quite soon alternatively just see to it that the judge is well compensated and this case will disappear. Ni cinema tu Kenyan judiciary works for the rich we all know that

Add new comment

Your name

Email

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.